Baseball Falls to Merrimack on Senior Day, 3-1


Senior Chris Hoyt drove in the lone run of the game for the Skyhawks.

Zach Schindler tosses 8.1 innings, limiting the Skyhawks to one run

EASTON, Mass. (May 7, 2016) – The Stonehill College baseball team, ranked sixth in this week's National Collegiate Baseball Writers Association (NCBWA) East Regional Poll, closed out the 2016 regular season on Lou Gorman Field today, falling 3-1 to Merrimack College in Northeast-10 Conference, Northeast Divisional play. The Skyhawks are eliminated from the Conference post season, but still hold an outside shot at earning a bid to the NCAA's as they are currently ranked sixth in the East Region.

Freshman Justin Lynch (Shelton, Connecticut/Shelton) made his first collegiate start for Stonehill and was tagged with the loss, pitching five innings and surrendering three runs on nine hits while striking out two batters. Junior Patrick Hurley (Roslindale, Massachusetts/Catholic Memorial) came on in relief and pitched the final four innings, holding Merrimack scoreless while allowing four hits.

Sophomore Alex Hurley (Rumford, Rhode Island/Worcester Academy) has been swinging a hot bat and extended his hitting streak to a career high five games, reaching base three more times today, finishing 1-for-2 with a double and two walks. Senior Chris Hoyt (Walpole, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) drove in the lone run for Stonehill, going 1-for-4 with an RBI, while Senior Eric Schneider (Camarillo, California/St. Bonaventure) and junior Ben Monte (New Haven, Connecticut/Guilford) recorded the final two hits for the Skyhawks.

Senior Zach Schindler (Halifax, Massachusetts/Silver Lake) twirled 8.1 innings of one run ball against Stonehill, striking out five batters while allowing four hits.

Senior Bobby Lossano (Peabody, Massachusetts/Peabody) and junior Tyler Lyne (Agawam, Massachusetts/Agawam) combined to go 6-for-9 with each batter collecting three hits apiece. Junior Cam DiSarcina (Shirley, Massachusetts/Groton School) went 2-for-4 with a double and two RBI, while sophomore Matt Nicholson (Rockland, Massachusetts/Rockland) finished 2-for-4.


Junior Pat Hurley tossed four scoreless innings of relief today for the Skyhawks.

Merrimack dinked and dunked its way to a run in the first inning, as junior Mike Forgione (North Branford, Connecticut/North Branford) led off the inning with a single and advanced to second on a fielder's choice. DiSarcina then drove a single through the right side of the infield to score Forgione, giving the Warriors a one run advantage.

Merrimack added another run in the fourth when senior Matt Brown (Belmont, Massachusetts/Worcester Academy) singled through the left side and Nicholson followed up with a single of his own to left field. After Lynch coaxed a double play to get two quick outs, sophomore Ricky Smith (Weymouth, Massachusetts/Xaverian Brothers) was plunked with a pitch and Losanno dropped down a bunt single to score Brown from third base.

After Merrimack plated its third run of the game in the fifth inning, Stonehill responded with a run of its own in the eighth. Junior Steve Lee (Braintree, Massachusetts/Braintree) worked a two out walk and Schneider, playing with a severe hamstring injury, came on to pinch hit and roped a single to right field. Schneider immediately left the game for a pinch runner and Hoyt singled to left field, plating Lee from second base.

Stonehill tried to rally in the bottom of the ninth inning when senior Brian Hocking (Duxbury, Massachusetts/BC High) and Hurley drew back-to-back one out walks, but that is as far as they would get on the base paths as junior Matt DiNello (Southington, Connecticut/Southington) came on for Merrimack and recorded his third save of the season.

With the loss, Stonehill closes out the regular season with a 24-20 overall record and a 12-13 mark in Northeast-10 divisional play. The Skyhawks will now wait to hear if their name is called when the field is announced for the NCAA Tournament. Merrimack advances to the NE-10 playoffs after finishing the year with a 29-17 overall record and a 19-10 mark in divisional play.

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